Apparatus for transporting flexible printed circuit board strip

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for transporting an FPCB strip includes a feeding spool, a collecting spool, and a buffer device between the feeding spool and the collecting spool. The feeding spool is configured for feeding an FPCB strip. The collecting spool is for collecting the FPCB strip from the buffer device. The buffer device includes a container, a redirection cylinder and an air pump. The redirection cylinder has a cavity defined therein, and a plurality of air exit holes defined in a side wall thereof. The air exit holes are in communication with the cavity. The air pump is in communication with the container and the cavity of the redirection cylinder for evacuating the air in the container so as to retain the bent portion in situ in the container and blowing air into the cavity, so as to form a cushion of air at the air exit holes.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for transporting a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) strip.

2. Description of Related Art

Microphones, portable computers and other electronic products have achieved ever greater levels of miniaturization, thereby requiring thinner FPCBs having a plurality of fine electrical traces.

At present, FPCBs are generally produced by a roll-to-roll processing method. The roll-to-roll processing method is a process carried out on flexible plastic or metal foil. The roll-to-roll processing method for producing FPCBs involves starting with a roll of unfinished FPCB strip and collecting the finished FPCB strip after etching, electroplating, electrolyzing, screen-printing or other processing steps. The finished FPCB strip is then cut into pieces to form a plurality of FPCBs. In the roll-to-roll processing method, a reverse wheel is used to change the direction of movement of the FPCB strip. The reverse wheel is rotated by a motor. The FPCBs contact the rotating reverse wheel, thus the FPCB strip is subjected to tension. In the processing steps of the FPCB strip, the motor may be frequently started and stopped. This may result in constantly changing the tension in the FPCB strip and too much friction occurring between the reverse wheel and the FPCB strip. In this case, the tension in the FPCB strip is difficult to control. Too much friction may cause damage to the FPCB strip, such as the breaking of conductive traces in the FPCB strip.

Therefore, a method for an apparatus for transporting an FPCB strip is needed to overcome the above-described problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic, isometric view of an apparatus for transporting a FPCB strip according to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprising a reverse wheel.

FIG. 2 is cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II, showing the structure of the reverse wheel.

FIG. 3 is a schematic, side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 which is transporting an FPCB strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an apparatus 10 for the carriage of an flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) strip during the manufacturing process, according to an exemplary embodiment, includes a feeding spool 11, a buffer device 12, and a collecting spool 13. The feeding spool 11 is cylindrical, and rotates. An FPCB roll (such as the FPCB roll 100 shown in FIG. 3) is already wound on the feeding spool 11.

The buffer device 12 is arranged between the feeding spool 11 and the collecting spool 13, and transports an FPCB strip (such as the FPCB strip 102 shown in FIG. 3) from the FPCB roll on the feeding spool 11 onto the collecting spool 13. The buffer device 12 includes a container 120, a redirection cylinder 121 and an air suction member 122.

The container 120 is an open rectangular box. A recess 1200 is defined in a surface 1201 of the container 120, and is blind. In this embodiment, the recess 1200 represents the hollow interior of the rectangular box, and is dimensioned to allow the FPCB strip to loop in and out. The container 120 has a side face 1202 adjacent to the surface 1201. A first through hole 1203 is defined in the side face 1202, in communication with the recess 1200. The container 120 is positioned below the feeding spool 11.

The redirection cylinder 121 is cylindrical and hollow, and includes the cylindrical side wall 1210 and two end walls 1211, 1212 fixed to two opposite ends of the cylindrical side wall 1210. The cylindrical side wall 1210 and the end walls 1211, 1212 cooperatively define a cylindrical cavity 1213. A second through hole 1214 is defined through the end wall 1211, and is in communication with the cavity 1213. The side wall 1210 defines a number of air exit holes 1215 therein. The air exit holes 1215 are fine-gauge holes. Each of the air exit holes 1215 has a diameter smaller than 1 mm.

The air exit holes 1215 are in a straight line, and one or more lines of holes 1215 is distributed at one quadrant of the side wall 1210. In other words, referring to FIG. 2, in a sectional view of the side wall 1210, all of the air exit holes 1215 are distributed in an arc range R of one quarter of the circumferential section of the side wall 1210. In this embodiment, the air exit holes 1215 are arranged in a plurality of lines or rows along the circumferential direction of the side wall 1210. Each row is parallel to the central axis of the side wall 1210, and includes a number of air exit holes 1214. The air exit holes 1214 may be divided into at least two lines, and each line includes at least twenty air exit holes 1214. The redirection cylinder 121 is positioned above the container 120, which stands below and between the feeding spool 11 and the redirection cylinder 121.

The air suction member 122 includes an air pump 1220, a suction pipe 1221 and an exhaust pipe 1222. The air pump 1220 has an air inlet 1223 and an air outlet (not shown). One end of the suction pipe 1221 is connected to the container 120 and in communication with the first through hole 1203, and the opposite end of the suction pipe 1221 is connected to the air pump 1220 and in communication with the air inlet 1223. One end of the exhaust pipe 1222 is connected to end wall 1211 of the redirection cylinder 121 and in communication with the second through hole 1214, and the opposite end of the exhaust pipe 1222 is connected to the air pump 1220 and in communication with the air outlet. The air pump 1220 evacuates air from the recess 1200 of the container 120 via the suction pipe 1221, and blows the evacuated gas into the cavity 1213 of the redirection cylinder 121 via the exhaust pipe 1222.

The collecting spool 13 includes a rotation driver 130 and two winding rollers 131 connected to the rotation driver 130. The rotation driver 130 can be a motor, and includes a rotating axle 132. The winding rollers 131 are connected with each other by a shaft 1310, and are coaxially arranged with each other. The rotating axle 132 is coaxially connected to one of the winding rollers 131. In this embodiment, a fixing hole 133 is defined in an end face of one of the winding rollers 131. One end of the rotating axle 132 has an interference fit in the fixing hole 133, thereby connecting the rotating axle 132 and the winding roller 131 with each other. In the present embodiment, the winding rollers 131 are cylindrical. The winding rollers 131 are driven by the rotation driver 130 to rotate. The rotation axes of the winding rollers 131 are parallel to the central axis of the side wall 1210 and the rotation axis of the feeding spool 11. The winding rollers 131 can also be driven by a drive belt, a gear wheel or other driving mechanism, not being limited to the motor of the present embodiment. The number of the winding rollers 131 can also be one or more than two.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a method for cutting an FPCB strip using the apparatus 10 is provided as follows.

Firstly, an FPCB roll 100 is installed on the feeding spool 11. A cutter 200 is positioned between the feeding spool 11 and the collecting spool 13. The FPCB roll 100 has a free end 103.

The, the FPCB roll 100 is arranged between the feeding spool 11 and the collecting spool 13. The cutter 200 is positioned after the redirection cylinder 121 and above the free end 103, and must contact the free end 103 for cutting the free end 102 into different lengths and/or widths.

In detail, the FPCB free end 103 is moved along a predetermined path between the feeding spool 11 and the collecting spool 13. The predetermined path is described as follows. First, the free end 103 is moved downward into the recess 1200 of the container 120 from the feeding spool 11, then bent upward to the redirection cylinder 121, thus exiting from of the recess 1200. Further then, the free end 103 is bent round the redirection cylinder 121 to the cutter 200. In this embodiment, the redirection cylinder 121 changes the direction of movement by 90 degrees. In other words, the free end 103 and the strip of FPBC following is changed from vertical direction to horizontal direction by the redirection cylinder 121. A quarter of the circumference of the roller 21 is in contact with the FPCB strip. Finally, the FPCB strip may either be cut across or may be cut longitudinally or both, to be wound onto one or more of the winding rollers 131. Alternatively, the number of the cutter 200 can be more than one, thus the FPCB strip can be cut longitudinally into three or more pieces. Accordingly, the number of the winding rollers 131 may be three or more.

Finally, the air pump 1220 is started, and the rotation driver 130 starts to drive the winding rollers 131 to rotate. The FPCB strip is continuously wound onto the winding rollers 131, thus the FPCB strip is taken from the feeding spool 11 and gathered onto the collecting spool 13. In this step, the air pump 122 evacuates the air in the recess 1200 of the container 120 via the suction pipe 1221, and then blows the suctioned air into the cavity 1213 of the redirection cylinder 121 via the exhaust pipe 1222. Therefore, a negative air pressure is formed in the recess 1200 of the container 120, and a positive air pressure is formed in the cavity 1213. The portion of the FPCB strip in the recess 1200 is evacuated further into the recess 1200 because of the negative air pressure, thereby preventing the loop of the FPCB strip from exiting out of the container 120.

The rotation of the winding rollers 131 pulls the FPCB strip out of the recess 1200. The downward force below and the upward force above cooperate to flatten the FPCB strip. The air in the cavity 1213 exits from the exit holes 1215 because of the positive air pressure, thereby forming airstreams adjacent to the exit holes 1215. The airstreams create a cushion of air which maintains a distance between the FPCB strip and the surface of the redirection cylinder 121, thereby preventing the FPCB strip from being broken or damaged by any change of direction or rate of movement in the redirection cylinder 121. The FPCB strip may be continuously cut by the cutter 200, and the thinner strips are then wound onto the winding rollers 131, thereby forming one or more FPCB rolls on the winding rollers 131.

It is understood that the apparatus 10 can also be used in other manufacturing processes, such as the formation and punching of electric traces, and is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, the air being blown into the cavity 1213 is suctioned from the recess 1200 of the container 120. There is no need to use compressed air in supplying the cavity 1213, thereby reducing the cost.

While certain embodiments have been described and exemplified above, various other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments described and exemplified but is capable of considerable variation and modification without departure from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for transporting an FPCB strip, comprising: a feeding spool for feeding an FPCB strip unwound therefrom; a collecting spool; and a buffer device between the feeding spool and the collecting spool, the collecting spool configured for collecting the FPCB strip from the buffer device; the buffer device comprising: a container for receiving a bent portion of the unwound FPCB strip from the feeding spool, a redirection cylinder having a cavity defined therein, and a plurality of air exit holes defined in a side wall thereof, the air exit holes being in communication with the cavity, the container arranged below and between the redirection cylinder and the feeding spool, and an air pump in communication with the container and the cavity of the redirection cylinder, the air pump being configured for evacuating the air in the container so as to create a suction force to retain the bent portion in situ in the container and blowing air into the cavity of the redirection cylinder, so as to form a cushion of air at the air exit holes.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air exit holes are arranged in a plurality of rows, and each row of the air exit holes is parallel to the central axis of the redirection cylinder.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each row of the air exit holes comprises at least twenty air exit holes.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein all the air exit holes are distributed at a quadrant of the side wall of the redirection cylinder.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the air exit holes has a diameter smaller than 1 mm.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer device further comprises a suction pipe and an exhaust pipe, the air pump being in communication with the container through the suction pipe, and being in communication with the cavity through the exhaust pipe.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collecting spool comprises at least one winding roller and a rotation driver, the rotation driver being connected to one end of the at least one winding roller, thereby driving the at least one winding roller to rotate.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rotation driver comprises a rotating axle, the at least one winding roller defines a fixing hole in an end face of the at least one winding roller, and the rotating axle has an interference fit in the fixing hole.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one winding roller comprises two winding rollers connected with each other and coaxially aligned with each other.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central axis of the feeding spool, the central axis of the collecting spool and the central axis of the redirection cylinder are parallel to each other. 